(36b) Rapid Synthesis of Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) Membranes for Gas Separations

Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) form a class of hybrid organic-inorganic nanoporous materials with tunable microporous channels and tailorable physical/chemical properties, which make them attractive for gas separation membrane applications.¹ Conventional MOF membrane fabrication techniques such as in situ and secondary (seeded) growth, borrowed from zeolite membrane community, face similar challenges as zeolite membranes: high cost of manufacturing, scalability and reproducibility.²Since the chemistry of MOFs is fundamentally different from zeolites (co-ordination vs covalent chemistry), a fundamentally different approach that can overcome the above mentioned challenges, can be possible for MOF membrane fabrication.

In this talk, we would like to present an unconventional approach that enables rapid synthesis of MOF membranes. This technique provides a scalable and reproducible method for commercialization of MOF membranes using existing infrastructure. Also, this method yields membranes with improved microstructure as compared to conventional techniques. We will demonstrate this novel method by synthesizing membranes of two prototypical MOFs, HKUST-1 and ZIF-8. Microstructure as well as gas permeation performance of these MOF membranes will be discussed and compared with conventionally synthesized membranes.³

1. (a) Shah, M.; McCarthy, M. C.; Sachdeva, S.; Lee, A. K.; Jeong, H.-K., Current Status of Metal–Organic Framework Membranes for Gas Separations: Promises and Challenges. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 2011, 51 (5), 2179-2199; (b) Pan, Y.; Li, T.; Lestari, G.; Lai, Z., Effective separation of propylene/propane binary mixtures by ZIF-8 membranes. J. Membr. Sci. 2012, 390–391(0), 93-98.

2. (a) Gascon, J.; Kapteijn, F., Metal-Organic Framework Membranes-High Potential, Bright Future? Angewandte Chemie-International Edition 2010, 49 (9), 1530-1532; (b) Bernardo, P.; Drioli, E.; Golemme, G., Membrane Gas Separation: A Review/State of the Art. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 2009, 48 (10), 4638-4663; (c) Coronas, J.; Santamaria, J., Separations using zeolite membranes. Separation and Purification Methods 1999, 28(2), 127-177.

3. (a) McCarthy, M. C.; Guerrero, V. V.; Barnett, G.; Jeong, H. K., Synthesis of Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework Films and Membranes with Controlled Microstructure. Langmuir 2010, 26 (18), 14636-14641; (b) Guerrero, V. V.; Yoo, Y.; McCarthy, M. C.; Jeong, H. K., HKUST-1 Membranes on Porous Supports using Secondary Growth. Journal of Materials Chemistry 2010, 20, 3938-3943.